Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it for use in adults with heart failure to lower cardiovascular risks. The FDA has also approved it for use in children ages 1 year and older to treat a specific type of heart failure.
Entresto comes as oral tablets. It’s a combination medication containing two active drugs: sacubitril and valsartan. Sacubitril is a neprilysin inhibitor, and valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker. Sacubitril is not available as an individual medication. Valsartan comes as an individual generic medication and as the brand-name medication Diovan.
For information about the dosage of Entresto, including its strengths and how to take it, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Entresto, see this article.
This article describes typical dosages for Entresto provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Entresto, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Below is information about typical dosages of Entresto for adults and children.
Entresto form
Entresto comes as an oral tablet. You’ll take the drug by swallowing it.
Entresto strengths
Entresto strengths are written as milligrams (mg) of sacubitril and mg of valsartan. This medication comes in the following strengths:
- 24/26 mg, which contains 24 mg sacubitril/26 mg valsartan
- 49/51 mg, which contains 49 mg sacubitril/51 mg valsartan
- 97/103 mg, which contains 97 mg sacubitril/103 mg valsartan
Typical dosages
Typically, your doctor will start you taking a low dosage. Then they’ll adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Adult dosage
Entresto is approved for use in adults to lower cardiovascular risks due to heart failure. Typically, a starting dosage is prescribed at the beginning of treatment. Your doctor will likely increase your dosage to the recommended target dosage. Your doctor can provide more information on how they’ll determine this dosage.
Starting dosage. The typical starting dosage is one Entresto 49/51-mg oral tablet taken twice daily.
Target dosage. The typical target dosage is one Entresto 97/103-mg oral tablet taken twice daily. Your doctor will increase your dosage from the starting dosage to this dosage after 2 to 4 weeks of treatment. This is also the maximum dosage of Entresto.
Children’s dosage
Entresto is approved to treat a specific type of heart failure in children ages 1 year and older. Doctors will prescribe the recommended dosage for heart failure based on a child’s body weight in kilograms (kg). For reference, 1 kg equals about 2.2 pounds (lb).
A child will typically begin with a starting dosage and reach their target dosage after 4 weeks of Entresto treatment.
For children weighing less than 40 kg
If a child weighs less than 40 kg (about 88 lb), they will typically swallow Entresto as a liquid suspension. (This is a type of solution that can be made with Entresto oral tablets by a pharmacist.)
Their dosage will typically be increased as follows:
- Starting dosage: 1.6 mg/kg twice daily
- Dosage after 2 weeks: 2.3 mg/kg twice daily
- Dosage after 4 weeks and beyond: 3.1 mg/kg twice daily
For children weighing 40 kg or more
If a child weighs 40 kg (about 88 lb) or more, they will likely take Entresto oral tablets. Their dosage will typically be increased by their doctor as follows:
| Child’s weight | Starting dosage | Dosage after 2 weeks | Dosage after 4 weeks and beyond |
| 40 kg to 50 kg (about 88 lb to 110 lb) | one 24/26-mg tablet twice daily | one 49/51-mg tablet twice daily | 72/78 mg twice daily* |
| 50 kg (about 110 lb) or more | one 49/51-mg tablet twice daily | 72/78 mg twice daily* | one 97/103-mg tablet twice daily |
* The 72/78-mg dose is made up of three 24/25-mg tablets.
Long-term treatment
Entresto is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Entresto is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Entresto.
Does Entresto have a recommended dosage chart?
Yes, it does. Entresto has different recommended dosages for adults and children. These dosages can be organized in a chart, such as the one shown above for children in the “Entresto dosage” section.
If you have questions about your Entresto dosage, talk with your doctor.
What is the typical dose range for Entresto, including its highest dose and lowest dose?
With Entresto’s typical dosage range, the lowest dose for adults is different than the lowest dose for children. The same is true with the highest recommended dose.
Entresto’s available doses are as follows: 24/26 milligrams (mg), 49/51 mg, and 9d7/103 mg. These strengths are written as mg of sacubitril and mg of valsartan. For example, Entresto 24/26 mg contains 24 mg of sacubitril and 26 mg of valsartan.
The lowest dosage of Entresto for adults is 49/51 mg twice daily, and the highest dosage is 97/103 mg twice daily. The lowest and highest dosages for children are based on the child’s body weight.
If you have additional questions about doses of Entresto, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If I have renal (kidney) problems, are there recommended renal dosing adjustments for Entresto?
Yes, Entresto has recommended dosage adjustments for people with severe kidney problems.
If you have kidney problems, your doctor will likely have you start taking a lower dosage of Entresto than is typical. They will increase your dosage carefully while monitoring your body’s response to the drug.
Talk with your doctor if you have kidney problems and you’d like to know more about taking Entresto.
The Entresto dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the type and severity of the condition you’re taking Entresto to treat
- your age and weight
- other medications you may take
Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Entresto dosage.
Dosage adjustments
If you have liver or kidney problems, your doctor may have you start taking a lower dosage of Entresto than is typical. They will monitor your response to the drug during treatment. If Entresto is working well and not causing side effects, your doctor will increase your dosage as recommended.
Entresto comes as an oral tablet. You’ll take the drug by swallowing it whole.
You should take Entresto the way your doctor recommends. Typically, it’s taken twice daily.
Pharmacists can use Entresto tablets to make an oral suspension of the drug. (This is a type of solution that’s swallowed.) The oral suspension is typically prescribed to children below a certain body weight. It can be administered using a syringe.
If you have trouble swallowing Entresto tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERSSome pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Entresto in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.
If you forget to take an Entresto dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, just take the next dose as planned. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
If you take more Entresto than your doctor prescribes, you may develop serious side effects. Symptoms of an Entresto overdose include low blood pressure.
It’s important that you do not take more Entresto than your doctor advises.
If you take more than the recommended amount of Entresto
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Entresto. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Entresto for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Entresto without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Entresto that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Entresto. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Entresto. For information about other aspects of Entresto, refer to this article.
- Drug comparison. To find out how Entresto compares with losartan, read this article.
- Details about heart failure. For details about heart failure, which Entresto helps manage, see our cardiovascular health hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
